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SECTION NUMBER DATE EFFECTIVE or ADMINISTRATIVE 04i07r09 4`, Miscellaneous 908 . 1 it ti � l ,II POLICY SUBJECT PAGE ItIndian River County Disposal of Indigent * *� Bodies (Burial and Cremation) 1 of 3 4f 0 f' MANUAL 4.. POLICY : It is the policy of Indian River County to adhere to the requirements of Chapter 406 of the Florida Statutes and provide dignified burial or cremation to Indian River County indigent residents or unclaimed bodies . Such service shall be through the use of cremation except where prohibited by law or regulation ; or where a relative has expressed a preference for burial , Indian River County shall make a reasonable effort to accommodate the request of the relative as provided within this policy. The coordination of burial and cremation services shall be handled through the Indian River County Human Services Department . COMMENT . 1 . Human Services shall make reasonable efforts to locate any of the decedent ' s relatives and a diligent search will be made to identify assets of the deceased to pay for costs associated with the final disposition of the body. Unless waived by the Human Services Director or designee, only the bodies of persons who die in Indian River County shall be considered to be the responsibility of Indian River County. 2 . Unless otherwise directed by the Medical Examiner ' s Office, all bodies , except for those unidentified, will be cremated . In the absence of a family member, relative or other designee of the deceased , the County Administrator or his designee is authorized to sign the approval for cremation . Should relatives of the deceased oppose cremation , they will be allowed to pay the funeral home directly for the additional cost incurred for burial . The County cost will be limited to the payment equivalent for cremation . 3 . This policy shall limit the amount of financial support that Indian River County will contribute towards either a burial or cremation . The amount shall not exceed $ 300 . 00 for cremation or $ 300 . 00 for burial . In either situation, the liability to Indian River County to underwrite such expenses shall only be afforded to those individuals who were determined to be indigent with no funds available to cover the cremation or burial costs . Indian River County Human Services Department will verify eligibility for such County contribution . 4 . In cases where burial is elected to be the means of disposition of indigent bodies , any individual or family shall pay the costs of such burial with Indian River County reimbursing its contribution of $ 300 upon invoice from the participating funeral home . In addition to the $ 300 contribution , Indian River County shall also provide a burial site at Winter Beach Cemetery at no costs . 5 . The Human Services Department will maintain internal operational procedures for implementation of this administrative policy and for working with funeral homes , the